Teflon Flu: Understanding The Risks Of Overheated Non-Stick Pans

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Teflon Flu Understanding The Risks Of Overheated
Non-Stick Pans
Chaitanya Kumari Writes informational articles on
aspects of daily living such as health, wealth,
wisdom, wellness as well as tomato and spinach
side effects, and diabetic diet plan for South
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Gone are the days of using traditional cookware.
With modern advances and inventions, non-stick or
Teflon-coated pans or cookware have become
popular and are used widely in modern-day
kitchens. Commonly known by its brand name
Teflon, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a
synthetic fluoropolymer used in non-stick
cookware. People prefer these pans due to their
benefits which include easy cooking and cleaning
without sticking, reduction in excess oil
requirement, lightweight, no rust or corrosion,
and even heat distribution for the heat-diffusing
bottom. However, along with the benefits come
several potential risks, which cant be
ignored. What is Teflon flu?Teflon flu
otherwise known as polymer flu is a set of
flu-like symptoms caused by inhaling fumes from
heated Teflon or non-stick coatings on pans.
People claim to experience such symptoms after
getting exposed to heated PTFE. What are the
symptoms of Teflon flu?The symptoms of Teflon
flu include fever, chills, headache, coughing,
sore throat, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain,
joint pain, fatigue, shortness of breath,
dizziness, and chest constriction.
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• How long does Teflon flu last?Teflon flu is a
  temporary condition without any serious
  consequences or long-term effects. The symptoms
  of Teflon flu usually develop within 4-8 hours
  after exposure to Teflon fumes and resolve within
  24-48 hours without any serious consequences. A
  few cases could require extra time for complete
  recovery. However, prolonged exposure to high
  concentrations of Teflon fumes may trigger severe
  health issues.
• It is crucial to remember that repeated prolonged
  exposure to Teflon fumes may trigger severe
  health consequences. It may cause respiratory
  issues or even organ damage.
• It is advisable to consult a doctor and get
  medical attention if a person experiences
  persistent or severe symptoms.
• What are the causes of Teflon flu?Inhalation of
  fumes from heated Teflon or PTFE non-stick
  coatings causes polymer fume fever or Teflon flu.

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• Reasons
• Teflon releases harmful fumes when exposed to
  high heat.
• Leaving Teflon cookware on high heat or
  accidentally scratching the non-stick surface
  with metal utensils damages the Teflon coating
  thus releasing toxic fumes.
• Workers engaged in manufacturing units, using
  PTFE or laboratory settings come in contact with
  the fumes and inhale them.
• Burning or heating Teflon products, like
  upholstery, clothing or cookware can release
  toxic fumes.
• Poor ventilation in kitchens, factories, or
  laboratories makes people vulnerable to toxic
  fumes.
• Inadequate safety measures while being vulnerable
  to PTFE increases the chances of inhaling the
  toxic fumes.
• Safe usage of Teflon products must be prioritized
  to ensure safety. Safe product use, proper
  ventilation, and safety measures while working
  with PTFE or Teflon are crucial.

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• What fumes come from non-stick pans?The
  non-stick pans coated with Teflon (PTFE) may
  release various fumes when heated. The fumes
  include
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• Perfluorooctane acid (PFOS)
• Fluoropolymers
• Furan
• Along with the fumes, it may release tiny
  particles of non-stick coating breakdown and
  volatile organic compounds which may cause
  respiratory issues.
• There are a lot of tips being given to handle
  this issue. Some even suggest that a variant of
  Teflon is not as harmful. However, considering
  the flip-flops on various topics in the past
  including low-fat food and cholesterol consumers
  may not feel confident or trust the advice. It
  seems going back to traditional cookware is a
  safer and better option. Why take unnecessary
  risks with health matters? Teflon cookware is not
  any less maintenance cookware either requiring so
  much effort to take care of them.

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